Q&A with Franz Tost (Toro Rosso)

Fresh from another points finish for Toro Rosso, team principal Franz Tost answered our questions at the British Formula One Grand Prix

Last season, the unwanted ‘worst of the established teams’ place in the constructors’ championship, ie ahead only of newcomers Lotus, Virgin and Hispania, was picked up by Toro Rosso. Now the team from Faenza currently lead the battle for seventh, thanks to them scoring in the last four races. While Sébastien Buemi has accumulated sensible points, the eye-catching performances have come from Jaime Alguersuari, who has started each of the last three races in 18th position but still scored points, including 10th at yesterday’s British Grand Prix.

So is that enough to satisfy team principal Franz Tost? We find out…

Why is the car now more competitive?

We have new front wings, new rear wings, a new floor, gearbox, diffuser, new exhaust system… Everywhere it’s a little bit different and all of those factors together resulted in a quite competitive car. The drivers are also making progress and the performance from both has improved during the season. They haven’t made major mistakes so they are [finishing] in the points. The team are also growing and increasing their performance.

Where is the team strong? Where can it improve?

We can improve everywhere! If you look to the history of Toro Rosso, we had to start from very nearly zero to build up the team. I’m quite happy with the progress we are making, but we will bring in some more people because we need to strengthen.

Regarding the recent rule clarifications, does change help you close the gap on the bigger teams or does the expense of redesigning systems give them an advantage?

I don’t think our team have suffered a lot. Ferrari provide our engines and engine maps to a very good and professional level and there are no other major changes required. For me it’s a little bit strange that we get these regulation changes during the season – but that’s a decision for the FIA, we will accept whatever we are asked to do.

With Daniel Ricciardo going to HRT for the rest of the season, there’s lots of interest in the Red Bull Junior Team. As their ‘finishing school’, do Toro Rosso have a responsibility to educate their drivers?

Yes, broadly that’s the task of Toro Rosso: to educate Red Bull drivers for Red Bull Racing. At the start of the season, Ricciardo was out for us on Friday mornings for 90 minutes to learn the different racetracks, how the team works, how to give technical feedback, how to work with the engineers, even how to conduct himself for marketing activities and press work. Now he’s been offered the chance to race, and I can see only advantages in this. Participating in FP1 is not the same as doing a complete race weekend, so he will be much better prepared for next year. And he can’t drive for Toro Rosso because we have two race drivers who are doing a good job. What our driver pairing will be in 2012, I don’t know yet. This will be decided by Red Bull at the end of the season.

Sebastian Vettel is being described as a driver who has ‘matured’ – but you always claimed he was mature when he drove for Toro Rosso. Do you think he has changed much?

I don’t know whether ‘matured’ is the correct word. Sebastian won the World Championship last year, and this takes a driver to a whole new level because he knows what he’s done and what he’s doing. Apart from his extraordinary driving skills and his cleverness, he’ll also have that extra confidence. Factoring all of that together allows him to build a package that’s very, very competitive. So from the outside that probably looks like a driver who is becoming more mature, but really there are many, many factors which are working together to make him strong – and he is currently the best out there.

Source: Toro Rosso